Chemical Found in Common Snacks Linked With Cancer

According to a recent study, the chemical acrylamide has been linked to several forms of cancer. Acrylamide is found in French fries, potato chips and even bread and coffee. Studies conducted in the Netherlands found that this chemical is a more prevalent threat than once believed.

A study conducted on nearly 21,000 participants between the ages of 55 and 70 found that those who ate the highest amount of acrylamide had a 59% greater risk for kidney cancer than those who ate the least acrylamide. Cancers of the kidney, bladder and prostate were found in a 13-year follow up with the participants.

In a similar study, researchers found that postmenopausal, nonsmoking women who consumed the most acrylamide had an increased risk for ovarian and endometrial cancer. The study was published last December in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention and the latest findings appear in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that 100% of Americans consume acrylamide.